Article orientation



Aug. 27, 1946. G, w .A$|-|| 0K, JR 42,406,311

` ARTICLE ORIENTATION Filed Feb. 21, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTRNEY A118- 27, 1946- G. w. AsHLocK, JR I ARTICLE ORIENTATION Filed Feb. 2l) 1945 43 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN1/Enron l fakaf W. ASA/z ox Je IIIIIIII/ Km .Il 7747/ lll."

Aug. 27,1946. Q; w. ASHLOQK, JR l 2,406,311

I ARTICLE ORIENT-'Afl'ION` *l Filed Feb. 21, 1945 5 sheets-sheet s '.17 62` 23 22 I Patented Aug. 27, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTICLE ORIENTATION George W. Ashlock, Jr., Oakland, Calif. Appliation February 2,11, 1945, serial No. 579,141

12, Claims.

pit axis are in alignment with a vertical axis.

Orientation or straightening of such articles is generally practiced because the articles are subject to a subsequent operation wherein the stone 0r pit present is removed or lthe article is otherwise processed. With the article in a predetermined position, the subsequent processing operation can be performed in a predetermined manner. For example, the stone or pit can be forcefully ejected through the stem indent with a minimum of bruising visible on the exterior surface of the fruit.

The earliest successful orientation device rof which I am aware is that disclosed in the Goranson Patent 1,742,653 issued January 7, 1930. Subsequently I have introduced other machines for performing the orientation operation and one may refer to my prior Patents Nos. 2,212,892 and 2,213,893 for examples of these. The various means disclosed in these patents operate with a high degree of efciency on `fruit which is substantially. spherical, Present fruit grading operations include the use .of mechanical devices which size the article by its maximum dimension. Thus, in the case of cherries, truly spherical ones and ovoidal ones will be found in the same grade because each shape was of the same maximum size. Prior machines will not straighten nor orient an ovoidal shaped fruit with any degree of eiciency and one or more inspectors are usually employed upon each machine to either remove the irregularly shaped cherries or else to straighten them by hand prior to the processing step. If this is not done then the product from the processing operation must be inspected and each offgrade article removed, the article being oifgrade because the pit was removed, for example, through the side and not through the stem indent.

The machine of the present invention is particularly suited to the orienting of those generally arcuate articles which have an indent at one end thereof irrespective of whether the article is spherical or ovoidal.

It is in gener-a1 the broad object of the present 2 invention to provide an improved orienting device. v

A further object of the present invention is to provide an orienting device in which the article is positively rotated until it is oriented, the article thereafter being maintained in its oriented position. A

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein the present preferred form of orienting device is disclosed. Y

In the drawings accompanying and forming-a part hereof,

Figure 1 is a side elevation with portions of the machine broken away and shown in section to indicate the general assembly.-

Figure 2 is a plan view, portions of the machine being omitted or broken away to show the relation between the main fruit conveyor and the fruit orientor driving means.

Figure 3 is a transverse view in section showing the relation between the main fruit conveyor means, the orienting device and the drive for the orientors. y

Figure 4 and Figure 5 each include a plan View, a side and an end elevation illustrating the construction of the orientors provided, Figure 4 illustrating an orientor to be rotated in a clockwise direction while the orienter shown in Figure 5 is to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction.

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken across the machine looking toward the front of the machine.

Figure 7 is a side elevation illustrating therelation between the main conveyor, the orientors and the means for positioning and for drivin the orientors. v

The main frame and main conveyor The machine of the present invention comprises a suitable frame generally indicated at 6 and including suitably spaced side plates 8 mounted upon the legs l and providing a support for a main conveyor IE). At each end of the side plates shafts YSi and I I are mounted in suitable bearings, l

each shaft carrying a pair of sprockets I2 supporting a continuous conveyor chain I4.

Each of the chains includes links having ears it projecting therefrom to provide support vfor article carriers indicated generally by numeral i1 and preferably formed as is more particu--V larly shown anddescribed in my prior Patents Nos. 2,209,305 or 2,314,862. Each of the article carriers includes a base plate'l upon which is f 3 mounted a rubber plate I9 retained in place as by .being bonded directly to the metal base plate I8 or by utilization of pins 2 I. Each of the carriers includes a plurality of article receptacles 22, each receptacle having an aperture 23 in the bottom thereof. In the form shown, six receptacles Yare provided but more or less can be employed.

Each receptacle is of a size somewhat larger than the article to be handled.

The drive The main or article conveyor I0 provided by chain I4 and the several carriers I'I is preferably moved continuously about an arcuate* path and in the form of machine disclosed this is 4, for example, I have shown an orienting member 5I which is adapted to be rotated in a clockwisedirection, the member being slotted as at 52 to provide upstanding prong-like projections t several elements thereof being reversed with respect to those shown in Figure 4.

Considerable attention must be given to the formation of the orienting end of the orienting accomplished by a motor-speedreducer unit inv 1 Y nected by chain 33 to a sprocket 39 on idler shaft 40.' Another sprocket MI on the idler shaft 4i) is connected .by chain |42 to a sprocket E43 on shaft Bsothe processing mechanism and the conveyor `III are driven in ya timed relationship. Sprocket|43 is rotatable on shaft'9 (see Fig. 1 in Patent 2,157,158) so the processing mechanism and the conveyormove continuously and in the proper relationship.

' The feed hopper At the rear end of the machine, a continuous supply of articles to be oriented and subsequently processed are delivered to the main conveyor by conveyor 4I movable through hopper 45 over support plate 42 in a timed relation to the movement of conveyor IU, conveyor4I being driven by sprocket i3A on shaft II connected by chain 44 to sprocket 46Y on shaft 41 which supports the forward end of conveyor 4I. The relation between conveyor 4I and conveyor I4', the driving of these and the manner of depositing articles from conveyorY 4I onto conveyor I4 is fully shown and set forth in Ymy Patent No. 2,288,062. The supply of articles to the main conveyor can be provided in any desired manner and that shown is one used successfully.

The orientation operation Each article delivered by conveyor 4I onto conveyor I0 is arranged in a haphazard and random manner in its supporting receptacle 22. If these provided for orienting the fruit in the receptacles This means comprises a rod-like orientor` member generally indicated at 5I and adapted to4 i engage positively the fruit in receptacle 22. Depending upon the direction of rotation of the member 5I, that end of the orientor which engages the fruit is formed so as to engage the surface of the fruitpositively. VReferring to Figure isY member or else positive rotation of the fruit to .c

be oriented is not obtained. Merely engaging fruitwith a rotatable element does not suffice and the form of the orienting element employed must be such asV to ensure positive engagement of the fruit surface. If one observes the action of the orienting member it Ywill be found that the fruit isy positively rotatedY and that the time required for orientation is, in eifect, the time required for positively engaging surfaces on the orienting member to traverse the fruit surface a distance equal to the spacing, in the'direction of movement of the fruit, between the stem indent end and the point of engagement of the orienting member. The actionv is comparable'to that in stepping oif a given lineal distance with a pairy of dividers except that the dividers are rotated about their common axis and the surface is caused to move by their rotation.

The orienting members are each supported above the bottom of the receptacle 22 a distance corresponding to the depth of the stem indent, so that when the fruit is .-oriented, each orienting member rotates in the stem indent and does not disturb the oriented fruit. Thus, the orientation is a matter of Contact between the Yorienting member and thesurface of the unoriented fruit, the orienting member moving the fruit positively into oriented position when the orienting contact is released and the orientingmember is no longer effective to disturb the orientation but instead,

serves, to maintain the article or fruit in this position. Y v,

One must also regulateA the ratek of rotation of they orientation members because I have found that the speed of rotation is related to the weight of the fruit. By observing the operation of the machine, onecan correlater the rate of orientation with the speed of rotation of the orienting members, changing the rate to secure the orientation in the least possible period of time and so ensuring thatl the greatest number of articles will be oriented during the permissible period of orientation.

Rotation of the orientors If the subsequent processing operation does not require use of apertures 23, the orientors can be constructed in a permanent relation to each aperture. Since the present machine is intended to permit fruit stoning, means are provided for raising the orientors into position and for rotating them.

To provide a support for the orienting members a plate 5I is mounted upon each of the fruit carriers I?. As is illustrated in Figure 6, each carrier is secured at each end to chain I4 by a screw 52. Each screw extends into a rod 63 which'positions the carrier and acts as a spacer and support for plate I, the threaded end 64 of the rod being passed through the plate 6I, nuts 66 being placed thereon to secure the plate in position.

which is passed through the barrel. A spring 13 is positioned between shoulder 14 on the shaft 12 and a drive pulley or wheel 16 positioned on the end of shaft 12 and secured in place by screw 11 andwasher 18. A pin 19 is inserted in the shaft, the pin fitting in a slot 8| formed in the pulley 16 and providing a sliding connection 4between shaft 12 and the pulley.

As appears in Figures 3, 6 and 7, a plurality of belts 86 are provided, each belt being engaged on opposite sides thereof by a pulley 16 on an end of one of the shafts 12 whereby the shafts 12y are'rotated in opposite directions. Inasmuch as the main conveyor disclosed includes six receptacles, three belts are provided as is indicated in Figure 6, each belt driving a pair` of orientor4 shafts. To drive the belts and at the same. time provide support therefor, a pair of plates 81 are secured together in a spaced relationship by spacer bolts 88, the plates being mounted upon only one of the side plates 8 by suitable studs 89 to permit the belts to be removed and replaced readily. At opposite ends of the plates 81 are provided shafts 90 and 9|, the latter extending through a plate 8 for driving by a separate prime mover (not shown) which includes speed regulation means. Along the upper run of the plates are provided a plurality ofsmall pulleys 92, there being three sets of these disposed in a row along the machine, each of the small pulleys being so closely adjacent to the other that in effect each `belt 86 moves over a straight line path parallel to that Aof the main conveyor I0. Pulleys 93 on shaft 9| are of a smaller diameter than are pulleys 94 on shaft 90 at the forward end of the machine tov permit belt 86 to lift the several orienting shafts 12 and the orienting members 5| from the disengaged position (righthand side of Fig. 1 and Fig. 7) into engagement with fruit in the several receptacles 22. Y

To maintain the desired lift an additional roller 96 is provided on shaft 91 to provide the first lift or elevation in the belt after it passes over pulley 93 while the final lift and direction onto the planar portion of the belt path is provided by a pulley 98 on shaft 99. Between pulleys 98 and 94, the belt run is parallel to that of the main conveyor.

As appears in the righthand portion of Fig. 1 and Fig. '7, the normal position of the orienting members is in the retracted position wherein the members lie outside of the apertures 23. However, as the main conveyor moves along, each wheel 16 is brought into contact with one ofthe belts 86, on one side or the other thereof, the

orienting member` being thus gradually projected upwardly through its associated aperture 23 into the receptacle until iinally the orienting member projects through aperture 23 into the receptacle the required distance.

When each of the wheels 16 has been raised by belt 86 so that the orienting member associated therewith is in its projected position and extends through aperture 23 to engage fruit for orientation in the receptacle 22, springs 13 will be compressed and each shaft member 12 will be moved upwardly in itsV associated support 1| until shoulder |03 thereon engages a cooperating shoulder in the end of support 1|. The tension of the spring will then be exerted downwardly on the `belt whereupon a positive driving engagement between the wheels 18 and the belt is secured.

' The upward thrust of springs 13 upon plate 6| is transmitted to conveyor chains I4. To prevent these from being lifted, guide plates |3| are secured in place on side plates |2 by angle iron members |32, the chains i4 thus passing between upper and lower guides between shaft 92 and shaft 9|.

Due to the fact that belts 86 move at arelatively faster rate than does the conveyor, wheelsr 16 are turned and each of the orienting members is thus rotated in its receptacle to engage fruit positively and effect its rotation therein as has been previously described.

When the main conveyor reaches that point in its travel just beyondthe position of shaft 90, the orienting members are permitted to drop down out of the receptacles and the apertures 23 are thus freed for subsequent fruit processing, if this be desired. For example, removal of the orienting members from apertures 23 enables cherries Referring particularly to Figures 3, 4 and 5, it will be noted that each of the orienting members 5| is mounted loosely upon a pin extended transversely through the hole ||0 in end ||2 of shaft 12; the aperture ||0 is larger than the pin Hl which supports the member 5|. It will also be observed upon reference to Figure 3 that I Receptacle flooding As appears in Figure 1, I preferably position a pipe 2| over each row of articles on the main conveyor undergoing orientation, ejecting through nozzles |22 on this pipe a suitable lubricant, as is disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,308,038, to facilitate orientation and to lubricate the orienting members 5| in apertures 23.

Carriers While I have disclosed my invention in con-r nection with carriers Il Vhaving semi-spherical receptacles 22 therein, of the form disclosed in my Patents 2,209,305 and 2,314,862, one can also utilize receptacles of other configurations. For example, I have successfully utilized a receptacle having straight sides and an open bottom as is shown in Figure 5 of my Patent 2,296,490 and in. Figures 4, 5, and 6 of my Patent 2,190,970. What is essential is that the fruit engaging means on the end of pins 5| be such as to engage the fruit surface positively. Fruit engaging means which merely slide over or slip on the surface of the fruit are not successful; to ensure positive rotation' 'until orientation is achieved, positive fruit surface engagement must exist between the end` ofthepin and the fruit surface. i

The rotatable pins can be mounted on a se arate conveyor (as conveyor 60 in my Patent 2,296,490) movedin a timed relation with the 'when it is desired to have the dimple or stem indent at the bottom. If it is desired to locate the articles with the dimple or indent reversed 180 from the position shown in Figure 3, Ithe pin conveyor can run along parallel to and over 'a portion of the run of conveyor l0 to rotate the articlesto orient the articles with the dimple at the top. 'Y

'A Y Stem indent The terms stem indent and dimple are used broadly herein and as including surface configurations suitable for orienting engagement-by pins l irrespective of whether or not this conguration is provided by nature or by an operation performed on the article. This will -serve to illustrate the breadth in applicability of the present invention. For example, some types of olives have such a small stem indentation that a pin 5I can engage and locate. If Such an olive be pitted, as is shown in my Patent 2,271,675 (Figures 2 4), a sulcient indentation is formed to enable the olive to be oriented successively in another operation after it has been pitted. Thus pitted olives can be later oriented accurately, after having been pitted and then assembled in a'random mass, for stumng with pimiento, nuts, onions, or the like.

I claim:

1.,'A device for orienting an article having a generally spherical contour and a stem indent, said device comprising a receptacle for supporting said article, said receptacle having an opening therein, aV rod member of substantially smaller diameter than said opening and extending through said opening to engage an article therein, means supporting said member for a wobble rotation in said opening, means on said rod member adapted to engage said article positively, and means for rotating said rod member in said opening.

2. A device for orienting an article having a generally spherical contour and a stem indent, said device comprising a receptacle for supporting said article, said receptacle having an opening therein, a rod memberv of smaller diameter than said opening and extending through said opening into said receptacle only a distance sufiicient to permit said member to rotate freely when said member is in said stem indent, means supporting said member for a wobble rotation in said opening, means on said rod member to engagesaid article positively, and means for rotating said rodmember in'said opening.

3. In an indented fruit handling machine, the combination of a holder for the fruit having an opening in its under side, means for placing the fruit in the holder in any position, and means for engaging the fruit positively in a driving engagement to turn the fruit into a position with the indent downward, said fruit turning means comprising a verticallyl positioned` rod having plurality of projections on its upper terminal end, each projection having a relatively sharp, knife-like end formed by a substantially flat verical face and a rearwardly extending trailing ace.

4. In an indented fruit handling machine, the combination of a holder for the fruit having an opening in its under side, means for placing the fruit in the holder Linfany position, and means extending through said opening andrrotatable therein to engage thel fruit positively in a driving engagement to turn the fruit intoY a position with the indent downward, said fruit turning means comprising a vertically positioned rod having a pluralityof projections on its upper terminal end, each projection having a relatively sharp, knife-like end formed by a substantially flat vertical face and a trailing face extending away from said vertical face and in a direction' opposite to the direction of rotation of said rod.

5. In an indented fruit handling machine, a fruit conveyor movable over a path and having a plurality Y of article receptacles arranged serially, each receptacle having an opening in the `bottom thereof, a series of pins carried by said conveyor7 each pin'being adapted to be projected through an opening in a receptacle bottom and having a plurality of knife-like edges on its projected end formed to engage positively in a driving engagement the surface of an article in said receptacle, means for moving each pin to project through an opening, and means for rotating a pin while projected. Y

6. In an indented fruit handling machine, a fruit conveyor movable over a path and having a plurality of article receptacles arranged serially, `each receptacle having an opening in the bottom thereof, a series of pins carried by said conveyor, each pin being arranged in an immediate and cooperative association with one of said receptacles and being adapted to be projected through an opening in a receptacle bottom, the projected end of each pin having a plurality of relatively sharp, knife-like fruit engaging projections thereon to engage fruit positively, means for moving each pin to project through an opening, and lmeans for rotating a pin while projected.

'7. In an indented fruit handling machine, a frame having opposite parallel side members, a fruit conveyor movable over a path and having a plurality of article receptacles arranged serially, each receptacle having an opening in the bottom thereof, a seriesof pins carried by said conveyor, each pin being arranged in an immediate and cooperative association with one of said receptacles and being adapted to be projected through an opening in a receptacle bottom and having'its projected end formed to engage positively in a driving engagement the surface of an article in said receptacle, a second frame mounted on only one of said side members and spaced from the other of said side members, a plurality of rollers on said second frame, and an endless belt adapted to be positioned over said second frame on said'rollers to project each pin into an aperture and rotate said pin Yin said aperture, and means for rotating a pin while prov jected. y

8. A fruit orienting device consisting of a pin having a longitudinal axis and adapted to be rotated about said axis in a selected direction, said pin having one end adapted to engage a fruit surface positively, said end including a slot extending across said pin and defining two opposite terminal projections, said projections each having a leading edge and a trailing face sloping downwardly from said leading edge and in a direction opposite to said selected direction.

9. A fruit orienting device consisting of a pin having a longitudinal axis and adapted to be rotated about said axis in a selected direction, said pin having one end adapted to engagea fruit surface positively, said end including a slot extending across said Din and defining two opposite terminal projections, said projections each having a relatively sharp, knife-like, leading edge and a trailing face sloping downwardly from said leading edge and in a direction opposite to said selected direction.

10. In an indented fruit handling machine, the combination of a holder for :the fruit having an opening in its under side, means for placing the fruit in the holder in any position, and a pin for engaging the fruit positively in a driving engagement to turn the fruit into a position with the indent downward, said pin having a longitudinal axis and adapted to be rotated about said axis in a selected direction, said pin having one end adapted to engage a fruit surface positively, said end including a slot extending across said pin and defining two opposite terminal projections, said projections each having a leading edge and a trailing face sloping downwardly from said leading edge and in a direction opposite to said selected direction.

11. In an indented fruit handling machine, the combination of a holder for the fruit having an opening in its under side, means for placing the 10 fruit in the holder in any position, and a Din extending through said aperture and rotatable therein to .engage the fruit positively in a driving engagement to .turn the fruit into a position with the indent downward, said pin having a` longitudinal axis and adapted to be rotated about said axis in a selected direction, said pin having one end adapted to engage a fruit surface positively, said end including at least two projections thereon, each projection having a leading face and a trailing face sloping down and away from said leading face t0 provide a tooth-like projection for positive engagement with' a fruit surface. 12. In an indented fruit handling machine, the combination of a holder for the fruit having an opening in its under side, means for placing the fruit in the holder in any position and a pin extending through said opening and rotatable therein to engage the fruit positively in a driving engagement to turn the fruit into a position with the indent downward, means supporting said fruit engaging means for rotation with respect to said holder over a circular path of a greater diameter than the diameter of said opening, said pin having a longitudinal axis and adapted to be rotated about said axis in a selected direction, said pin having one end adapted to engage a fruit surface positively, said end including at least two projections thereon, each projection having a leading face substantially parallel to said axis and a trailing face sloping down and away from said leading face in a direction opposite to said selected direction.

GEORGE W. ASHLOCK, JR. 

